Bitteroot Fires

Hot Shots Working to Keep Rockin’ Complex Out of Drainage

By Courtney Lowery, 8-09-05

Cool, relatively wet weather Monday held down the Rockin' Fire burning near Lake Como in the Bitterroot National Forest, but crews were expecting some action Tuesday as temperatures increase and humidity drops.

The fire was still mapped at 3,500 acres Tuesday with officials waiting for a new count. It is not threatening any structures.

The Helena Hot Shots are planning to work Tuesday on securing lines along the Rock Creek Trail west of the lake to keep the fire from jumping into the Rock Creek drainage south of the fire. Meanwhile, helicopters are getting in to do water drops on the east flank of the fires.

A Type II Incident Command team is now in place. In a release Tuesday morning, commander Stan Benes said, “Our strategy on this fire is to confine and contain. We want to be able to use our resources where it is safe and feasible to contain the fire.�

So far, there are about 50 people on the fire and two helicopters on hand.

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